These stories remind us that recreational trappers provide a vital service to everyone , keeping wildlife populations in check , effectively serving as a foundational pillar of everything that professional wildlife managers try to accomplish . It is up to all of us to continue to educate people about the massive public good that trappers provide , and this includes every sportsman and -woman who engages in our sacred outdoor traditions .
In my experience as a nuisance trapper , I knew many of the recreational trappers in the region , and in those areas that had active trap lines running through the fall and winter , I was never called in to address a problem . At the same time , in those areas where recreational trapping was restricted or prohibited , overpopulation of one species or another was the norm and became my daily routine to address , either because of an immediate emergency or a major disease outbreak .
We often talk about how the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance is about one sportsman helping another . All of our outdoor traditions are under attack from the animal extremists , so every one of us must heed the call when a member of our community is singled out for cancellation . This is especially true for trappers , who for several decades have proven to be the very front line of the ongoing battle to change America forever .
Many will recall that the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance was founded on a trapping issue . Back in 1976 and ' 77 , animal extremists brought a trapping-ban ballot initiative to Ohio , seeking to end trappers and trapping with one vote at the ballot box . Thankfully , a group of hard-charging sportsmen came together to say no , pushing back against the extremists , sending them packing with their tail between their legs . But since that time , we ’ ve seen a steady drumbeat of activity to end trapping , both in the states and at the federal level .
Ballot Initiatives , Legislative Bills and Over-Regulation The fight to end trapping has come in many forms . But trappers have fought time and again . More importantly , however , the trapping community has illustrated what it means when you are committed to fight for your brothers and sisters . Throughout our history as an organization , the Sportsmen ’ s Alliance can attest that trappers are among the very first to volunteer when other sportsmen and -women are under attack , because they know what ’ s at stake . If the extremists win , and this means on any issue at any time , the trappers understand that all of us will sink together .
As you read this issue , remember a couple of important facts , which I ’ ve attempted to highlight in this article . One , trappers perform a critically important function in the grand design of the North American Model . And more importantly , two , trappers have been our best allies when it comes to their willingness to fight for others in the community . In many ways , they exhibit the very best community spirit — even though trapping is so often a solitary exercise — and all of us would be well-served to emulate them when a member of our community is under attack in the future .
Intruding raccoons are common nuisances in suburban areas . Left unchecked , they can pose a danger to humans , pets and populations of other wildlife .
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